POW by Aquinas

[aquinas]

(POW Wrestling)

POW Battlezone
from Suhail Center

NOTE
-- The following aired before POW Violence and POW Way of the Fist. Quick results:


Qualitar tries to get an indicator from Saboteur as to who the masked one will get as his partner in the PPV tag match against Shylock and Absalom. Saboteur says he has a couple logs in the fire and would have his partner ironed out, but obviously isn't about to play his hand this early. He adds that Shylock and Absalom don't even like each other, so there will be no unity there.

Stigma defeats J.J. Smooth by STIGMATA

Indigo defeats Ahnu by BLUE STREAK

Desdemona defeats Latasha by BITE MARKS
-- Latasha pitches a fit over his loss, accosting the referee for failing to see 'illegal biting'.

Thayne defeats Pendekar by MISSILE DROPKICK
-- Ahnu comes down after this one, smashes Thayne from behind, then yells "For the Magus!" as he repeatedly pummels his enemy.

Cypher defeats Dante by triangle choke
-- Cypher keeps his hot streak going by embarrassing the cruiserweight champ.

Commissioner Jack Hood comes out with his ruling about Mensar's request for a title shot at Euritar.
-- He recognizes that Mensar is a "top contender" but wants to see for himself. At POW Fan Fest, the final card before the POW's 1st pay-per-view "POW Rising", it will be Mensar vs. Jack Hood. If Mensar wins, he gets the title shot at the PPV. Otherwise, Jack Hood will hand select an opponent for Euritar.

[aquinas]

(POW Wrestling)

POW Fan Fest
from Pleiades Fighters' Guild Arena

-- The show began with President Prodigy, cameras following him, approaching Commissioner Hood. The crowd popped big when Hood showed up onscreen.
-- Prodigy said, " So, you're taking on Mensar tonight to see if he's worthy for #1 contention? And if he loses, you pick a #1 yourself?"
-- Hood grinned his metallic grin. " Aye, that be it. Got a problem with that?"
-- Prodigy shrugged. " Well, I -am- the president still, and it would be nice to have some input. As you may have noticed, I've got a match tonight between Gunnar and Cypher. I know Cypher already has an MMA title defense on POW Rising, but what say we give the winner of that match #1 contention and a shot at Euritar, if you beat Mensar?"
-- Hood thought about it for a moment. " Sure, yer wantin' some input in this and I'm game. I'm okay with both of those guys. If Mensar fails t' get past Jack Hood, it'll be Cypher or Gunnar takin' on Euritar."

Jack of Diamonds -vs- Crucible
-- The bizarre Crucible was unable to crack Jack, who was all business here and won convincingly!
Winner: Jack of Diamonds by ten count punches


Darwin's Legacy -vs- Good Ol' Boys
-- Silas and Gordo downed a couple "Silasweisers" before this one, then came out to a surprisingly huge pop. Silas offered Dr. Barnabas a beer at ringside, but the good doctor recoiled as if offered a poisonous snake.
-- This one was short, but very competitive. In the end, there was no stopping Darwin's Legacy. When the tag team division is ramped up to full force in POW, they must be considered the top team.
Winners: Darwin's Legacy by EXTINCTION


Cypher -vs- Gunnar
-- This one got the crowd going, with two of the top big guys going at it. Cypher has been on a tremendous hot streak, between his run as heavyweight MMA champ and his wrestling surge.
-- In this one, the streak continued. Gunnar has been hot himself, but proved to be no match for Cypher.
Winner: Cypher by CYPHER STRETCH

-- President Prodigy congratulated Cypher as he left the ring, reiterating that if Mensar fails in the main event, Cypher will be put in the challenging -- but impressive -- position of both defending an MMA title and going for a wrestling title on the same card.


Special Challenge for #1 Wrestling Cruiserweight Contender
Zed Marlowe -vs- Mad Jester
-- Marlowe has been out to prove himself, having been unfairly canned from the CPC/POW twice. If Mad Jester was concerned, he of course didn't show it. Instead, the oddball was hamming it up all the way to ringside.
-- The match itself was all Marlowe. He left Jester sprawled out on the floor for a countout win. The impressive cruiserweight dominated from bell to bell, and now gets a shot at Dante at POW Rising!
Winner: Marlowe by countout


MAIN EVENT
Mensar -vs- Jack Hood
-- The biggest cheers of the night went to Jack Hood as he came down for this challenge....but Mensar had a surprise in store for everybody.
-- Before the bell rang, Mensar motioned for somebody to come down to ringside....and out came Cordanus! A chorus of boos resounded as the man who nearly snuffed out wrestling in the galaxy cockily strode down, smug as ever.
-- The match was an absolute gem. Hood has yet to win in his limited action, but looked sensational here against the big man from Mensa.
-- At one point, it looked bad for Mensar when Cordanus tossed a foreign object into the ring....only to have Jack grab it first and cold-cock the wrecking machine! Mensar managed to recover from that one and took control.
-- The HOSTILE TAKEOVER downed Hood and propelled Mensar to another shot at Heavyweight Champ Euritar! Mensar and Cordanus gloated in the ring.
Winner and #1 Contender: Mensar by HOSTILE TAKEOVER

-- The show closed with Qualitar managing to find Saboteur backstage.
-- Qualitar asked, " Saboteur, we are days from POW Rising and you've got to pick a partner to take on Shylock and Absalom. Surely you must have...."
-- Saboteur cut in. " I've worked out a temporary alliance....and that's all I need for this match. Who that is is none of your business. You and everyone else will find out at POW Rising."

[aquinas]

(POW Wrestling & MMA)

POW Rising
from Planet POW

OFFICIAL RESULTS

-- Shylock and Absalom were shown backstage, preparing in a locker room. There was a distinct uneasiness between them, with no words being spoken.

-- Commissioner Jack Hood came out to a raucous crowd reaction. The former Planet Pelf was newly remodeled and packed with frenetic fans. He had a simple message to kick things off….” The POW is back! Let th’ wrestling world know – the wildest, craziest, most bad-ass federation in the known galaxy is back!”

-- Announcers Qualitar and Janus the Overman ran down the card, including all FIVE championship matches (2 wrestling and 3 MMA).


Latasha –vs- Rhiannon
-- Latasha came out in a stunning, sparkling red, white and blue robe, looking extremely confident and extremely full of herself. The crowd wasn’t impressed, and as their boos grew, the self-proclaimed ‘diva’ got more irritated. Franco Jesterelli tried to calm her down, telling her she’s a bonafide star, and an unappreciated one at that.
-- Rhiannon made her first appearance since the well-publicized controversies involving her, Shylock and Saboteur.
-- The match was even, with – this time around – Latasha showing more of the skills that had made her a GWF champion. However, in the end, Rhiannon used her finisher twice to put away the American!
Winner: Rhiannon by BANSHEE WAIL

-- Franco Jesterelli was livid after the match, gesticulating wildly. He leapt into the ring and kept shoving his camera in the ref’s face. Finally, the referee watched the footage. He seemed puzzled and kept looking at it, for what dragged on to a crowd-booing five minutes.
-- Finally, the referee went to the announcer and, in light of some sort of rule-breaking by Rhiannon, the decision was reversed! Rhiannon was beside herself, demanding to see the footage herself! But Franco and Latasha quickly made off.
OVERTURNED Winner: Latasha by disqualification


The King’s Men –vs- Matinee Idol & Brainstorm
-- The King’s Men have been getting the better of this feud without a doubt. Perhaps it was wounded pride that drove Polter and Brainstorm here, who put on a great showing. This was an all-around excellent match. Brainstorm in particular carried his team, but even Idol – who up to this point had been struggling in his wrestling debut – had strong moments, including putting away Jack with his finisher!
Winners: Idol & Brainstorm by AWARD WINNER


Shylock & Absalom –vs- Saboteur & partner
-- Shylock and Absalom came down first. Having been thrust together as partners by Jack Hood, they’ve clearly not been ‘chummy’, but the two talked privately as they awaited their opponents. Splatter stood with them and gave some last minute advice.
-- Saboteur came out first, stopped about halfway down the ramp, then turned and waited. Out came Gunnar! The intense Canopus native strode down, giving Saboteur a slight nod.
-- This turned out to be one outstanding match – though one of the most dysfunctional in recent wrestling history.
-- Saboteur and Absalom started things off – and when Absalom tagged in Shylock, the games started. Saboteur tagged out quickly….but when Gunnar had Shylock down, the assassin tagged himself back in and went for the kill!
-- Saboteur tagging out when Shylock was making a comeback and tagging himself back in with Gunnar was in control went on a number of times.
-- In the end, Saboteur nailed a fist drop perfectly on Shylock and got a surprise pin on his hated enemy! The masked one then left the ring, shouldering past his own ‘partner’! Gunnar – who had proven to be a very strong partner – looked incredulous and stormed after Saboteur.
Winners: Saboteur & Gunnar by flying fist drop


Super Heavyweight MMA Championship Match
Puma (c) –vs- Rubicon
-- This was a heavily-anticipated battle between not only two very gifted fighters but two bitter rivals. Dr. Barnabas wasn’t allowed at ringside, but gave Puma last-minute pointers as they walked down the ring ramp together.
-- Puma tried to get Rubicon to the mat above all else, but every time they clinched and grappled, Rubicon dominated. As this one went on, it became clear that Rubicon was the better combatant on this night. He wore down the AniMan, and after a thudding hip throw that sent a gasp through the crowd, a new champion was crowned!
Winner and New Champion: Rubicon by back hip throw


Cruiserweight MMA Championship Match
Thayne (c) –vs- Stigma
-- Thayne impressed many with his surge to the gold in the Cruiserweight MMA tournament. Stigma, however, was intent on making it a short reign.
-- Much like Puma, Thayne face a challenger who had all the answers. Stigma administered vicious strikes from the get-go, and downed the champ quickly.
Winner and New Champion: Stigma by overhand right

-- Cypher was shown preparing for his title defense. He was asked if he was phased at all about the other two MMA champs losing their titles in their first defenses. The cocky one from Antares shrugged it off. “ I didn’t get to where I am now by being lucky. I got here because I am the best. I am the best mixed martial artist, and I am the best wrestler. Don’t talk to me about superstitions and trends. I could care less what guys like Thayne and Puma are doing – I worry about Cypher.”


Heavyweight MMA Championship Match
Cypher (c) –vs- Raze
-- Cypher was laser quick at the bell, taking Raze to the mat immediately. Raze managed to get back to his feet after a time, but Cypher brought him back down. Few are better grapplers than the heavyweight champ, and it showed here. Raze could not keep this one off the mat.
-- Cypher wins a big defense.
Winner and Still Champion: Cypher by dragging single leg

-- Cordanus was shown attempting to get into Euritar’s locker room. He kept pounding on the door and yelling things like, “ What’s the matter? Can’t handle the truth? Your time is up, little man! Up! Haha!”
-- Finally, Euritar threw open the door and went after the nefarious manager, but Cordanus dashed away cackling. Before Euritar closed his door, he stared at the camera crew and then snapped, “ I’ll be glad when I defeat Mensar and am done with this. Cordanus is going to regret getting his cowardly butt back into the business!”


Cruiserweight Wrestling Championship
Dante (c) –vs- Zed Marlowe
-- This one got crazy. It was a very close, evenly-contested battle. Dante landed HEAVEN followed by HELL though, and Marlowe seemed out.
-- But out came Brainstorm of all people, with Matinee Idol in tow. The two got Dante’s attention outside of the ring. Marlowe recovered and seemed very annoyed by the interference, but with the title on the line he sure as hell took advantage of it.
-- Zed smashed Dante from behind, threw him back in the ring, and pounced….but the champ rebounded, nailed HELL again and won big!
-- After the match, Idol and Brainstorm came in and destroyed the weary champion! The crowd booed incessantly. Why would the two – already knee-deep in a feud with the King’s Men – mess with the cruiserweight champ?
Winner and Still Champion: Dante by HELL


MAIN EVENT
Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
Euritar (c) –vs- Mensar
-- Mensar and Cordanus came down supremely confident, but confidence is one of Euritar’s prime attributes as well. Both men were ready for this one.
-- Mensar unloaded some heavy artillery early on, and was able to keep Euritar from utilizing his high-flying style. Cordanus barked instructions and encouragement more and more with each passing moment.
-- Euritar started making a comeback….but then – AGAIN – Matinee Idol and Brainstorm strode down. The crowd booed loudly. Idol and ‘Storm taunted the champ from ringside. Euritar shouted, “ What the f--- are you doing here?”
-- Mensar recovered and took control of the match – and never looked back. A HOSTILE TAKEOVER enabled him to take over the top title!
Winner and New Champion: Mensar by HOSTILE TAKEOVER

-- The crowd was livid at Idol and Brainstorm for interrupting both wrestling championship matches. They got in the ring and grabbed the fallen Euritar. Mensar started punching him over and over.
-- Dante rushed down, looking a bit worse for wear after his title match….and leapt into the ring hoping to save Euritar – but the odds were against him. Idol tripped him up and began bludgeoning him with elbows.
-- In the end, Mensar – with heavyweight title in tow – stood triumphant alongside Matinee Idol and Brainstorm!

[aquinas]

POW Notes

-- Euritar is reportedly beyond angry about his title loss. He has promised to take it out on Brainstorm and Matinee Idol, and then get his gold back. He also has promised to deal with Cordanus as well. " You and I go way back, little man. Apparently you can't let the past die, back when you tried to make my life hell in the GWF when I was on Guile's team. Well, enjoy yourself now -- it's going to get really unpleasant for you and your goon squad."

-- Dante is as puzzled as Euritar about the Brainstorm/Idol alliance with Mensar, but is vowing that he's got Euritar's back and that the trio of villains will pay. " Zed and I had a good match going on, when you guys showed up and messed with it. You want my attention? You've got it."

-- Mensar is already gloating about his CPC title. " Thanks to the Man with the Power, now I am the Man with the Title! Haha -- Euritar, you should have seen the look on your face when that title was handed to me after POW Rising. The Age of Mensar is here!"

-- Cypher was the only MMA champ to survive the 1st POW pay-per-view. Puma and Thayne fell in their first title matches -- proof of the volatility and competitive nature of mixed martial arts. As for Cypher, he has emerged as one of the top stars in the POW.

-- Gunnar was reportedly upset but not shocked by Saboteur's roughshod treatment of him in their tag team match. " Look, I joined that whole thing because I know where the action is. And look at how I stole the show. If not for Saboteur constantly playing his games, I would have been the one to pin the great Shylock. Killer Queen...Jack...Zed...you guys better be watching. Gunnar is showing why he's always been the best."

-- Shylock mocked Saboteur after their match. " I'm not going to cry about a loss -- but I think the galaxy saw what kind of coward Saboteur was. I'm looking forward to an actual one on one with you. You won't be able to hide behind a partner then. Hood, if you're listening, make the match happen. No more of this tag team crap. Saboteur-Shylock. It's what everyone wants to see!"

[aquinas]

(POW Wrestling)

POW Aftermath
from Titan Arena

-- The crowd got off to a booing start when Mensar strode out, held the Heavyweight Championship aloft, stood there for several minutes, then left. A "Euritar!" chant erupted throughout most of the posturing.


Puma -vs- J.J. Smooth
-- Puma is an enigma, especially in his return, but it's safe to say he wasn't happy about losing the MMA super heavyweight title....and J.J. Smooth was the unlucky recepient of that wrath. Not surprising, this was a squash.
Winner: Puma by SIDESWIPE

-- Gunnar was interviewed backstage about his participation in the tag affair involving Saboteur and Shylock. He added on his post-PPV comments. " Like I said, I didn't take that offer to make a new friend. It was opportunity. And I think, from the buzz we've all been hearing since POW Rising, it was a success. Everyone knows that Gunnar, not Saboteur, was instrumental in that victory."


Jack of Diamonds -vs- Saboteur
-- With Jack's best days behind him and Saboteur's ahead of him, this could have been a squash too. However, Jack had other ideas. For virtually the entire match, Jack had an answer for everything Saboteur threw at him. It just felt like the legend's day....but in the end, Saboteur put him away. Even so, what a great match.
Winner: Saboteur by EYE FOR AN EYE

-- After the match, occasional interviewer Dynamo stopped Saboteur. " You got the first victory against Shylock in your renewed feud, even if some are saying you were less than brave in that one, using Gunnar to do your dirty work...."
-- Saboteur shook his head. " You mistake tactics with cowardice. I know better than anyone how to get into Shylock's head. Gunnar was a tool, yes. But a useful one. And who stands as the leader in my little war with Shylock? Me. End of story."


Mike Fortune -vs- Gunnar
-- This was another excellent match. Neither man is a particular crowd favorite, but their strong showing here did garner some cheers.
-- Fortune won in the end. Afterwards, Saboteur strode down and got in Gunnar's face, staring at him. Without warning, Mike Fortune clobbered Gunnar from behind with a vicious clotheline! He pounded Saboteur's one-time partner viciously.
-- Saboteur snatched a microphone from Dynamo and stated, " Gunnar, don't overstep your role in my affairs. You were a tool. Nothing more. I think you just needed a reminder."
Winner: Mike Fortune by MONEY TALKS


Indigo -vs- Absalom
-- These two foes were anxious for this one to start. The match largely went Absalom's way however. Indigo looked very frustrated during the match. But then, as if finding some untapped reserve of energy, Indigo made a fierce comeback for a big win!
Winner: Indigo by Colors of the Rainbow


Thayne -vs- Ahnu
-- They finally get their hands on each other in an actual match! This one proved to be painfully frustrating for Thayne. In part out of frustration at losing his cruiserweight MMA title, but mostly because of intense hatred for Ahnu, Thayne went ballistic! He pummeled Ahnu from the get-go, even nailing his finisher.
-- However, Thayne got out of control and refused to release an illegal choke. Ahnu was awarded a DQ victory without having delivered a single offensive move!
-- Thayne flew into a further rage, pushed down the referee, and went after Ahnu, bludgeoning him with fists and elbows. Security quickly got involved.
Winner: Ahnu by dq


MAIN EVENT
Euritar & Dante -vs- Matinee Idol & Brainstorm
-- Euritar lost his title thanks to Idol and 'Storm. Dante nearly did because of them. They showed their anger by thumping Idol around. Brainstorm turned things around for a bit, pummeling Dante. But a hot tag to Euritar turned this one around.
-- Euritar nailed his MERCILESS sequence on Brainstorm for a 2 1/2 count, then executed it again! It was then that Mensar rushed down and punched Euritar before he could make the pinfall. Brainstorm tried to recover to capitalize -- but a -third- MERCILESS ended this one!
Winners: Euritar & Dante by MERCILESS

-- Mensar rushed into the ring and went after Euritar. The two began trading punches. Matinee Idol tried to suckerpunch Euritar, but Dante intercepted with a cross body. It became a wild brawl between the four, with Brainstorm out of commission.

[aquinas]

(POW Wrestling)

POW Combat
from Thuban Arena

-- President Prodigy was seen stepping into Commissioner Hood's office. " Hood, I've been wanting to ask you. I know you're getting your feet wet, dabbling in a little wrestling, dabbling in a little MMA."
-- Hood regarded him quizzically. " And yer point be?"
-- " The early POW numbers are good, but I think you're holding back."
-- Hood scowled. " Me? I don't hold anything back, ye should know that."
-- Prodigy held out a hand. " No, no. Not like that. But you seem to like buildups to feuds. Me, I like the action starting. That little tag team affair with Shylock and Absalom against Saboteur and Gunnar was interesting, but the people want to see Shylock-Saboteur. Why put it off?"
-- Hood snorted. " Shylock-Saboteur is gold, me 'friend'. Gold. Why rush it? Mensar-Euritar is gold....do you want 'em fightin' on every card now?"
-- " And what about the tag team division? You've barely done anything with that. We have a better tag team scene than anybody, yet guys like the Punks and Darwin's Legacy are sitting inactive."
-- Hood laughed. " Again, ye be rushin' things. The tag-teams will get their due."
-- Prodigy stared at him for a bit. " We'll play it your way, but let's talk again soon."
-- He left and Hood muttered under his breath, something about "soft ex-wrestlers."

Crucible -vs- Raze
-- Raze was considered by many the winner in his feud last year with Crucible. This one put the exclamation point on it. No contest here.
Winner: Raze by crucifix powerbomb


Hanuman -vs- Pendekar
-- Pendekar has one of the most potent offensive arsenals in the POW, and he nearly put Hanuman away in mere minutes. However, he flubbed a deathjump and the AniMan never looked back. A CORNERED ended this one.
Winner: Hanuman by CORNERED


-- A vignette was shown of Latasha losing to Rhiannon at POW RIsing, only to have Franco Jesterelli convince the referee to reverse the decision.

Rhiannon -vs- Latasha
-- The fiery redhead went right after the former GWF champ turned POW 'diva'. Rhiannon used her finisher fairly early for an abrupt victory.
-- After the match, Jesterelli managed to get some time with the referee again....and convinced the ref to let the match resume, that Rhiannon used the ropes in her pinfall.
-- Rhiannon threw up her hands and went right after Latasha, and used her finisher again. This time, the decision was final!
Winner: Rhiannon by BANSHEE WAIL

-- After the match, Franco gesticulated wildly at Rhiannon, waving his camera around. Rhiannon reared back to clobber him, but Latasha speared her and rained down with repeated slaps and punches, screaming dramatically!


Scion Nexus -vs- Shylock
-- The fans were anxious for this great battle between two superstars at different stages of their career.
-- What an outstanding match! Scion Nexus proved just how much he has left in him, giving back Shylock everything thrown at him.
-- At the twenty minute mark, Scion landed his finisher and Shylock seemed down and out! But Saboteur and Mike Fortune rushed down....and attacked Shylock!
Winner: Shylock by D.Q.

-- The two thumped Shylock....but Scion Nexus, furious over having a victory snatched away, attacked Saboteur! Mike Fortune nailed the Titan with a clothesline. Security interrupted this one before any damage could be done.
-- President Prodigy stepped out, a little swagger in his step and amidst a respectable pop. " I think I've seen enough here. Saboteur....Shylock....let's get this thing started up once and for all. You two, in the ring on the next card. MMA style. Winner gets an MMA title shot at the next PPV, POW Art of Violence."
-- The crowd went crazy. One has to wonder what Jack Hood will think about being overstepped by the prez, but regardless -- the two hated enemies will at last take each other on one on one.


Non-Title Heavyweight Champ vs. Cruiserweight Champ!
Mensar -vs- Dante
-- The crowd was doubly excited about this one. These two put on a great show, but Dante proved unphased by the weight and power difference. He went right at Mensar time after time.
-- Cordanus made himself a serious pest, interfering three times. But after HEAVEN, Dante scored a shocking upset over the heavyweight champ!
Winner: Dante by HEAVEN

-- Mensar recovered quickly and was positively livid! He charged after Dante, but the cruiserweight got out of the ring and strode up the rampway, taunting and gloating every step of the way!
-- Cordanus tried to settle down his champ, but Mensar was fit to be tied.

[aquinas]

Qualitar's SubspaceNet Report

-- Hello folks. Welcome to first SubspaceNet Report of the new year. Things have been, to say the least, exciting here in the POW. The simple fact that I'm saying "POW" instead of "CPC" is reason enough. That's something a lot of us old-timers are getting used to.

-- Let's get right down to business.

Top 5 POW Stars to Watch

1. Cypher
-- This guy has been on a tear since the format switch. Be it in MMA or wrestling, Cypher is beating anybody and everybody. He has been staying away from the whole Saboteur-Shylock unpleasantness, but that's about to change, as on the next fight card, one of those two will be made the #1 contender to Cypher's MMA heavyweight title!

2. Mensar
-- He got off to a rocky star in MMA action, but after 'proving himself' to Jack Hood in the ring, he went on to beat dominant heavyweight champ Euritar. Sure, he got a couple assists, but the end result is he's the champ. And with Cordanus back in his corner -- plus two allies in Brainstorm and Matinee Idol -- we could be entering "The Mensar Era" of the fed.

3. Mike Fortune
-- Have you noticed this guy is quietly beating everybody? No one is sure where his loyalties lie -- although he's been seeming to cozy up to Saboteur again -- but regardless, this guy is a winner.

4. Dante
-- The flamboyant Italian has held on to the cruiserweight title for several months, and staved off a tough challenge from Zed Marlowe. Now he, along with Euritar, is in the scope of Mensar and his minions. Can the unflappable cruiserweight hold his own against such a faction? It'd be silly to bet money against him.

5. Saboteur
-- This guy has looked sensational in his return. Sure, he appeared cowardly in the tag match against Shylock and Absalom, opting to hide behind Gunnar and pick his shots....but one cannot deny that Saboteur is the master of mind games. Shylock had better be on his toes. On the next card, we'll get to at least see these two against each other, in MMA action. That will be sure to fill the arena.


Feuds to Watch
1. Shylock - Saboteur
-- This is a no-brainer. These guys have a long history of hatred. This feud is the cornerstone of the new POW. Commissioner Jack Hood was clearly trying to milk it and build up suspense, until President Prodigy stepped in and signed them up for an MMA match. While there is something to be said for build-up, I and half the galaxy can't wait to see the showdown at long last.

2. Euritar - Mensar
-- In the waning days of the CPC, Euritar owned Mensar every time they faced. Just as the feud seemed to run out of steam, Cordanus returned and led his massive ally to a title win. Euritar is understandly irate and wants revenge. Standing in his way is not only Mensar, but Cordanus, Brainstorm and Matinee Idol. With only Dante as an ally, can Euritar overcome such odds?

3. Ahnu - Thayne
-- It's one thing to have a wrestling feud. This one goes well past that. You all know the history. This is about more than moves, pinfalls, and submissions. This is about religion, war, and families in crisis. Thayne is one of the most intense fighters in the POW -- Ahnu may well regret coming back.

4. Puma - Rubicon
-- Puma soared to the top of the super heavyweight MMA heap, only to be knocked down by Rubicon. Rubicon has wrested himself free from the nefarious clutches of Dr. Barnabas, something that may be impossible for Puma. The doctor's past and present collide -- let the fur fly!

5. Gunnar - Mike Fortune
-- Gunnar may have suspected betrayal from his one-time partner Saboteur, but it still burned him when Saboteur and Mike Fortune took him out at POW Aftermath. Gunnar wants to get his hands on Saboteur, but appears content with dealing with Fortune first. Here we have two guys on the rise. For anybody who appreciates excellent wrestling (or mixed martial arts), this feud is going to be a treat.


And that's your report. Stay tuned for some exciting POW action in the next week. Shylock-Saboteur in MMA action....plus all of the title contenders will be determined as we build up to the second POW pay-per-view, POW Resurgence.

[aquinas]

(POW MMA)

POW S t r i k e
from Sagitta Stadium


-- Commissioner Jack Hood came out and run down the card. The first two matches will feature super heavyweights. The winners will face on the next card for #1 contender. Likewise, four cruiserweights will vie for the same honor.
-- Hood hesitated, got a really sour look on his face, then begrudging announced the main event -- for the heavyweight MMA #1 contention -- Shylock versus Saboteur! Despite the commissioner's obvious irritation over Prodigy's hand-picked match, the crowd went nuts.


Gunnar -vs- Silas
-- Silas strode down to a commendable pop, downing one of his "Silasweisers" and slapping the hands of many a fan. Then out came the intense Gunnar. He looked like somebody had just killed his dog, and still sported a black eye from the beating administered by Mike Fortune and Saboteur.
-- This one was all Gunnar. He kept getting the redneck down and thumping him with punches. Silas just wasn't able to get a sustained offense going. Gunnar will get a shot at #1 on the next card!
Gunnar KOs Silas via mounted punches

-- Shylock was shown preparing in his locker room, a troubled look on his face. Splatter was there and hissed, " Look, forget about Rhiannon for now. I'm sure she got held up somewhere. You've got too important a match to worry about that...."
-- Shylock shook his head. " I'm not 'worried' about her. I know she can take care of herself. I've just got a bad feeling. Saboteur's up to something."
-- Splatter slapped him lightly on the face. " Snap out of it. Just go kick his butt tonight."


Puma -vs- Hanuman
-- Puma's grappling game is virtually unparalleled. He smothered Hanuman in this one and wouldn't let this one get off the mat. Another impressive win for Dr. Barnabas' prize. Gunnar is doing great in MMA, but can he stop the Animan when they meet on the next card?
Puma makes Hanuman SUBMIT to sit out side choke


Thayne -vs- Pendekar
-- The first two matches were lopsided. This one was an absolute gem! Thayne and Pendekar went back and forth in a battle that saw seemingly equal amounts of strikes, clinches and grapples. The crowd got more and more pumped as it went on.
-- With both men nearing grogginess , Thayne flew into the air and smashed Pendekar in the face with a flying knee....and this one was over!
Thayne KOs Pendekar by flying knee

-- Cameras rushed into a storage area, followed by Shylock. Rhiannon was found unconscious, sprawled out among some boxes. Shylock yelled out and rushed to her side.

-- Dynamo quickly made it to Saboteur's locker room. He stopped short because Mike Fortune was standing in front of the door, arms folded. " Saboteur's busy. Go away," the Hitman muttered.
-- Dynamo put in, " Somebody attacked Rhiannon....do you know anything about that?"
-- The faintest hint of a smile crossed Fortune's lips. He then put on a concerned look and replied, " Heavens no. I hope she's going to be alright!"


Ahnu -vs- T.K.
-- Thayne tried to come down to ringside to see this one, but security only allowed him halfway down the ramp. Thayne paced back and forth like a stalking tiger, watching -- perhaps hoping that Ahnu would win and face him on the next card for #1 cruiserweight.
-- While this was no Pendekar-Thayne, this was another outstanding match. T.K. has looked superb in MMA action, but he had his hands full in this one.
-- Ahnu seemed distracted by Thayne's presence, constantly looking his way. One point was particularly costly for Ahnu, as T.K. pounced, got him down, and administered an arm slicer for a tapout.
T.K. makes Ahnu SUBMIT to a bicep slicer


MAIN EVENT - Heavyweight #1 Contention
Shylock -vs- Saboteur
-- Cypher, MMA heavyweight title strapped over his shoulder, cockily strode down and joined Qualitar and Janus the Overman. He shook hands with his old friend Janus, then sat down. His commentary largely centered on Saboteur being a "slimeball" and Shylock "getting bogged down being a little sissy about his girlfriend".
-- Saboteur came down first, to a chorus of boos. Shylock didn't walk down -- he rushed down and had to be restrained from attacking Saboteur on sight. But Shylock showed just how focused he was -- as soon as the bell rang, his hostility seemed to fade and he took this one very cautiously.
-- President Prodigy had to be beaming. His pushing of his feud to its first one-on-one encounter paid off, as this was a superb, superb match. Both men seemed to have an answer for each and every move.
-- Back and forth it went. Cypher kept mentioning that Saboteur better watch out for Shylock's "lights-out right hand", while proved prophetic when Shylock landed an overhand right that not only downed Saboteur, but put him out completely!
Shylock TKOs Saboteur by overhand right

-- Shylock pumped his right hand in the air, then went after the knocked-out masked man! He grabbed him by the throat and started choking him. The crowd was mostly going crazy, though there was an uneasiness too -- had Shylock snapped because of the Rhiannon attack?
-- Mike Fortune rushed down and elbowed Shylock in the back of the head. He kicked at the new #1 contender viciously! But soon after, Cypher rose out of his chair, handed his belt to Janus, and got into the ring. He grabbed Fortune and threw him out of the ring. Fortune considered coming back, but instead smiled, shrugged, and left.
-- Cypher looked back at the downed Shylock and Saboteur, stepped over them with a grin, and left himself.

[aquinas]

(POW MMA)


POW Paid in Blood
from the Pleiades Fighter's Pit

President Prodigy strode out to mostly jeers, followed by "JACK HOOD....JACK HOOD" chants. He smiled faintly, either not affected by the chant or simply rolling with it.

" Ladies and gentlemen, the former CPC has seen a revitalization and resurgence in its new life as the POW. MMA has been a huge hit...." the crowd went nuts...." yes, thanks to fans like you....POW wrestling has been its usual outstanding level as well. But we have been doing things in stages. POW started MMA only, then added wrestling....now it is time to restore the great tradition of tag-team wrestling. In the coming weeks, we will announce a tournament to crown the first POW Tag-Team Champions!"


Dante -vs- Matinee Idol
-- Franco Jesterelli joined Qualitar and Janus the Overman at the announcing table, and went on and on about how much of a fraud Dante is. Janus seemed annoyed with him immediately, while Qualitar keeping his usual cool.
-- Matinee Idol strolled out smugly, posturing every few feet. The crowd booed him big-time, which rankled the arrogant would-be actor. Dante, on the other hand, received a tremendous pop.
-- Dante, fueled by lingering hatred for Idol and Brainstorm after their interference in his last wrestling cruiserweight title defense, went right at Polter. Franco's ward seemed tenative and nervous, but as this one went on, he actually turned into into a seesaw battle.
-- In the end, and a SHOCKING end it was, Idol spun out with an outside trip and Dante slammed down, landing awkwardly on the back of his head. Idol won!!!
Matinee Idol KOs Dante via outside trip


Euritar -vs- Brainstorm
-- The crowd was still buzzing over Dante's embarrassing loss to MMA-raw Zak Polter. They got doubly behind Euritar....but this one went very similar. Euritar pounded at Brainstorm early with strikes, but the cerebral veteran hung in and got some strikes of his own. Euritar moved in for an uppercut at one point, and was met with a vicious knee to the head....and down he went!
Brainstorm KOs Euritar by knee to head

-- Brainstorm and Matinee Idol gloated miserably to ringside interviewer Dynamo. " Did you SEE that?" crowed Idol. " Did you see Dante's head hit the mat? Ha ha! Did I nail that fraud!"
-- Brainstorm tapped his temple and quipped, " Euritar may be talented, but he's got a sliver of the intelligence I do. I outsmarted that bald lug. Note how he expended all his energy early on. It's almost like that old boxing move, what was it called? Ha ha....yes....'rope-a-dope'......Euritar, you're a dope. You and your fancy little friend Dante felt our sting. Just as we cost you your wrestling title, now you're costing you your reputation!"


Nano -vs- Morgana
-- Morgana seemed unsure what to make of Nano's seemingly free-spirited, happy-go-lucky desire to 'play'. The two put on a respectable fight here, but Morgana gained a head of steam with repeated strikes....and finally Nano laughed and stayed down after a combination, exclaiming, " Phew, you win! You win! Good job!"
Morgana KOs Nano by left, right combo


Latasha -vs- Desdemona
-- Latasha may have gotten lippy and brash in her later GWF years, but that's nothing compared to this new diva act. The former GWF Women's Champ paraded down to the ring, with fireworks and glitter surrounding her.
-- But again, her fighting career seems to be taking a step backwards....Desdemona destroyed her here, knocking her down quickly and then smothering her with submissions. A slamming drop ended this one thereater.
Desdemona KOs Latasha after a single leg pick up and drop


Romulus -vs- Talon
-- With tag-team wrestling only starting up in POW soon, Romulus hasn't seen much of any action, nor has Talon. These two put on a short, but spirited MMA match. The end saw Talon lock in a choke that Romulus fruitlessly tried to escape, then tapped out.
Talon makes Romulus SUBMIT to a rear choke hold

-- Afterwards, Talon was celebrating, climbing the top rope and pumping his fist in the air to a cheering crowd. Romulus, red faced and furious, shoved Talon off the top rope and onto the arena floor! The crowd gasped at the nasty bump. Romulus made a gesture at the fallen Talon and left.


-- Cypher was getting ready to go to the ring, when he was stopped by his opponent, Mike Fortune! Fortune sneered at him. " You messed in my business the other night. I don't like that. You realize you're going to have to pay for that tonight?"
-- Cypher smirked back at him. " I hate Shylock, but I'm not going to have some coward like you or your little masked buddy sabotage my next challenger. I want the galaxy to see that Cypher is the greatest of the heavyweights. You pansies may like to sneak attack people, but that's not my style."
-- Fortune scowled. " You talk a mean game, you alien freak. But the talk is over. Let's get this going...."

Cypher -vs- Mike Fortune
-- Mike Fortune got Cypher rattled early on with some strikes, but the heavyweight MMA champ got this one to the mat, and few are better than him when it comes to grappling. He was all over Fortune, who just couldn't get back to his feet.
-- In the end, Fortune managed to escape, only to flub a grapple and find himself in a keylock. Game, set, match.
Cypher makes Fortune SUBMIT to a keylock

-- The crowd wasn't exactly overwhelmed with love for Cypher, but there were more cheers than boos when he won this big showdown. He went and retrieved his belt from ringside, where his old friend Janus kept it at the announcer's table. As he headed back, somebody leapt out of the crowd and tackled him. It was Saboteur!
-- Saboteur began pounding Cypher with elbow strikes, over and over.
-- The crowd started cheering wildly all of sudden....for Shylock emerged from backstage and charged down the ramp. He speared Saboteur, who went flying. The masked man got to his feet quickly and decided the situation wasn't advantageous to him, so he dashed back off into the crowd!
-- Shylock watched him go, then looked down at a groggy Cypher. He shook his head, made a point of stepping over Cypher, and left.


T.K. -vs- Thayne for the Cruiserweight MMA #1 Contention
-- Former champ Thayne went right after T.K. This one was over quickly, thanks to some key strikes by Thayne. T.K. got clocked early and never recovered. Thayne will get a shot at redemption! Will he regain his title?
Thayne KOs T.K. by frenzied strikes


Gunnar -vs- Puma for the Super Heavyweight MMA #1 Contention
-- Gunnar has made a mark in POW, both with his wrestling/MMA skills and with his high-profile "issues" with Saboteur and Mike Fortune. Perhaps it was the latter that was on his mind more, as he just wasn't himself in this one. He started off well, thundering off some kicks and punches at Puma. But Dr. Barnabas' animal did what he has been doing successfully in all MMA matches -- he got this one to the mat quickly and efficiently.
-- In the end, Gunnar just couldn't escape and had to tap out to a body lock. Puma, like Thayne, gets a chance to regain his old gold!
Puma KOs Gunnar by triangle body lock

-- Before the show closed, Dynamo caught up with a frustrated Dante and Euritar. " Laugh it up, Brainstorm," Euritar snapped. " If you think beating me once makes you a better man, you're sorely mistaken. Line your career up to mine and see who thinks you're better. I've done three times more than you ever will. I was a GWF champion. I was a CPC champion. Neither of which you ever were. If you're so smart, you'd know that pissing me off is a bad move."
-- Dante chimed in, " Franco, you must be proud of your new prodigy. But he's a lousy actor, and he got lucky against me tonight. He's a joke, just like you are. The best move I ever made was ditching you. But let's deal with Mr. Polter. Idol -- let's see you try to repeat your success against me. Hell, I'll even give you a title shot at my cruiserweight gold. Not that you even deserve it, but that's how confident I am."

[aquinas]

Qualitar's SubspaceNet Report

-- Hello again, POWers! We are fast-approaching the 2nd POW pay-per-view, Resurgence. All of the MMA title matches are determined. After the next series of cards, the challengers to Dante's cruiserweight and Mensar's heavyweight wrestling straps will emerge as well.

-- Let's get right down to business.

The MMA Title Picture

Heavyweight MMA Championship Cypher -vs- Shylock
-- This ought to be an absolute gem! Cypher, the dominating champ. Shylock, the popular juggernaut. What a tangled web this has become, with Mike Fortune, Saboteur....even Gunnar....all involved. It's a mess, but it's awesome!

Cruiserweight MMA Championship Stigma -vs- Thayne
-- The intense Thayne lost this title to Stigma, then catapulted right back. Will he regain his gold? What does Ahnu think of all this?

Super Heavyweight MMA Championship Rubicon -vs- Puma
-- This feud already is outstanding. Rubicon and Puma have dominated the SH division. It's only fitting that the two will lock up again for the gold. Can Puma regain?


Quick Hits

-- Saboteur and Mike Fortune seemed to have formed an alliance, which is probably wise for the masked man given his nasty reputation. He needs -somebody- to watch his back. The two have continued a crusade against Shylock, but I don't think they expected Cypher to step in. Cypher's no friend of Shylock himself, but it's admirable that he doesn't want Shylock injured before their title showdown. Regardless, Cypher is in Saboteur's scope now too. Cypher is too cocky to care, but I think anybody on Saboteur's bad side needs to look out.
-- Speaking of which, Gunnar hasn't let his bitterness fade either, when it comes to Saboteur and Fortune. Still smarting from being used by the masked conspirator, Gunnar continues to vow revenge. What I've been thinking -- is a Gunnar-Shylock alliance inevitable? The old "An enemy of my enemy is my friend," and all that....
-- So the tag-team division is finally coming back. Speculation has been that Commissioner Jack Hood has no interest in it, preferring one-on-one wrestling to complement MMA. Is this yet another point of contention between the commissioner and the president? It should be no surprise that Prodigy -- one of the GWF's greatest tag-team wrestlers of all-time -- is a big advocate. Let me throw this out -- Darwin's Legacy will be the champions when the dust settles. Those two still are THE class of the division, as far as I'm concerned.
-- Brainstorm and Matinee Idol were pesky gnats to Euritar and Dante before....but after the two arrogant ones won back-to-back MMA matches against their foes, nobody is taking them lightly now! Zak Polter has struggled in his early career, but what a victory! He looked solid against Dante. As for Brainstorm, he's always good -- but winning an MMA match against Euritar? Tremendous windfall for Mensar's two unlikely allies. If this keeps up, the big winner is obviously Mensar -- if Euritar can't get past Brainstorm or Idol, he won't be causing the Heavyweight Champion much grief.
-- When Romulus threw Talon off the top rope to the floor, it was nasty. I was there, folks....Talon landed with a sickening thud. The tag division is back, and I think it's safe to say that the Punks found themselves an immediate pair of foes.



And that's your report.